Where to Set Your Heart and Mind

As I have been reading the Bible and my daily devotional, I have noticed a reoccurring phrase: “set your heart/mind on…” (or its antithesis: set not your heart/mind on…). This has grabbed my attention every time because it is so easy to set my heart/mind on other things besides on where it needs to be, which is on Christ Jesus Himself. This is the verse that first grabbed my attention regarding this:

Put no trust in extortion;
set no vain hopes on robbery;
if riches increase, set not your heart on them. Psalm 62:10 ESV

Riches may increase, but we are not to set our hearts on them. We should be thankful for them and praise God for them, but we should not let them be our heart’s desire or let them consume us. But I think riches can be replaced with any other thing that we are tempted to set our hearts on. Money is not the only thing to trip us up. When things like material goods, positive/improving circumstances, relationships, respect/fame/honor, dating prospects, time off/vacations, children, ministry opportunities increase, we should not set our hearts on them.

But that’s no easy task. Our hearts are easily distracted and very prone to wander. Just in the past few days I have been battling this; this time in the form of medical help. My sister and I took my dad to his chemo treatment on Tuesday. He has been in unrelenting pain these past few weeks, so he told his doctor this when he saw him before the treatment. The doctor prescribed him a 12-hour pain medication to manage the pain with his other pain pills. We were pretty excited about this, but then the next day came when my dad took his first pill. He threw up the rest of the day (because it’s a 12-hour, time-released pill). My dad was (and still is) in complete misery and we were all very disappointed and discouraged. But the Lord brought the verse above to my mind, gently reminding me not to set my hope on medicine or doctors or anything else.  
So what does it even mean to set your heart or mind on something? Well, according to the always-handy Internet, this is the definition of these phrases:

“set your heart on” – to desire or greatly long for
“set your mind on” – to focus all your attention or pour all your energy into

So basically to set your mind/heart on something is to give it your full attention and affection and to make it the object of your desire. There is only one who deserves such devotion and His name is Jesus Christ. He is to be the focal point of our lives. We are to love Him with all of our heart, soul, mind, and strength (Mark 12:3). So it is no wonder that Scripture tells us what and what not to focus our heart and mind on.

And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it. For the pagan world runs after all such things, and your Father knows that you need them. But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Luke 12:29-31 NIV

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory. Colossians 3:2-4 ESV

For those who live according to the flesh set their minds on the things of the flesh, but those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. Romans 8:5 ESV

So we do not lose heart. Though our outer self is wasting away, our inner self is being renewed day by day. For this light momentary affliction is preparing for us an eternal weight of glory beyond all comparison, as we look not to the things that are seen but to the things that are unseen. For the things that are seen are transient, but the things that are unseen are eternal. 2 Corinthians 4:16-18 ESV

From that time Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and suffer many things from the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, “Far be it from you, Lord! This shall never happen to you.” But he turned and said to Peter, “Get behind me, Satan! You are a hindrance to me. For you are not setting your mind on the things of God, but on the things of man.” Matthew 16:21-23

Brothers, join in imitating me [the Apostle Paul], and keep your eyes on those who walk according to the example you have in us. For many, of whom I have often told you and now tell you even with tears, walk as enemies of the cross of Christ. Their end is destruction, their god is their belly, and they glory in their shame, with minds set on earthly things. Philippians 3:17-19

So set your mind and heart on the unseen, on heaven, on eternal things, which basically means we have to trust the Lord and take what He says in His Word as true over whatever we can see and hear and feel and sense. We have to remember that God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts aren’t our thoughts (Isaiah 55:8), and trust that He is working all things to the good for us that are His (Romans 8:28). But who is sufficient for these things? God is. He gives us the strength and the faith and the desire to set on mind and heart on Him. Like Romans 8:5 says above, those who live according to the Spirit set their minds on the things of the Spirit. The Holy Spirit helps us in this. He directs us and prompts us and rebukes us to keep us focused on the Lord Jesus, and we work with Him by filling our mind with Scripture and following His lead, instead of filling our hearts and minds with the influences of the world. And, not only that, but God promises to guard our hearts and minds in Jesus Christ as we place our focus and trust Him (Philippians 4:7). Where we set our hearts and minds is crucial. It is a matter of life and death, as each verse above demonstrates. The stakes are high and God is jealous to have all of your affection and attention. But He doesn't leave us on our own. He equips us and empowers us. He gives us all the resources we need to live the life He has called us to live. He even gives us Himself. So let's give Him all of us.